93211 - Plants-Environment Interactions and Biomonitoring

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has advanced and updated knowledge on the morpho-functional mechanisms of acclimatization and adaptation of plants to environmental stressors, on the use of plant organisms as bioindicators and on the main biomonitoring techniques based on plant organisms.

Course contents

The course will address the multiple interactions that occur between plants and the environment.

The topic will be addressed both from an evolutionary point of view (the reaction of plants to different environmental factors as a push for evolution, the consequent diversified adaptations that generate biodiversity), and from a more applicative perspective (how human beings can take advantage of it, with a particular focus on the use of plant organisms for biomonitoring).

The course will be divided into 2 modules.

MODULE 1

General introduction and basic concepts. Interactions in the living world; abiotic and biotic stresses; acclimative and adaptive responses to environmental stress; tolerance, defense and homeostasis; phenotypic plasticity; genetic and epigenetic regulation; resistance and priming; constitutive and elicited defenses; beneficial and negative interactions between plants and other organisms.

Plant response to climate change. Climate change factors, types of stress; adaptations and acclimatization to water deficit, excess water and oxygen deficiency, salt stress, high and low temperatures, different light conditions, high irradiance and ultraviolet radiation. Single stresses and multiple stresses.

Urban flora and plant-monuments interaction. Urban environment as example of multiple stress. Biodeterioration and bioremediation of works of art.

Hormesis. Hormetic effects of biotic or abiotic components on the plant. Hormetic effects of plant metabolites on animals and humans.

Experimental models to study stress/tolerance. From in situ observations to the laboratory; in vitro plant cultures.

Agrobacteria. Interaction between plants and Agrobacteria. Hints of transgenic plants.

Bioeconomy and green chemistry. Introduction of the concepts of biorefinery and circular economy; some real examples.

MODULE 2

Anthropic environmental stresses. Type of main pollutants produced by man and their impact on plants. Plant responses to environmental pollutants. Heavy metals and hyperaccumulators. Water and soil pollution; Phytoextraction and phytoremediation. Air pollution; Constructed air purification. Interactions between plants and the environment under conditions of environmental stress and the role of microorganisms in increasing tolerance to biotic and biotic stresses. The plant microbiota. Microbiota and microbiome concept. Importance of interactions with microbial communities: from human health to plant ecology. Physiological and metabolic responses to environmental stress.

Biotic interactions of plants. Secondary metabolism in plant-environment interaction. Main classes of secondary metabolites. Functional and ecological roles of secondary metabolism. Plants and pollinators. Exchanged molecular signals and their perception (VOC). Hormones and polyamines.

Biomonitoring. Biomonitoring concept. Bioindicators. Lichen symbiosis. Practical examples on the use of lichens in bioindication and bioaccumulation. Nitrogen oxides. Tropospheric ozone. Effects of high atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide.

Readings/Bibliography

Interazioni Piante-Ambiente, Luigi Sanità di Toppi e altri, Piccin Editore, 2018.

Power point presentations by teachers available on the Virtual platform and any scientific articles in Italian and/or English obtained from national and international magazines, chapters obtained from various textbooks.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons using Power Point presentations available on the Virtual platform. Some practical activities are planned in the classroom and at the Botanical Garden of Bologna.

Teaching activities will take place regularly in person for all students, compatibly with health conditions and regulations in force.

Assessment methods

The exam is oral and aims to evaluate the achievement of the learning objectives.

Teaching tools

Use of Power Point presentations available on the Virtual platform.

Office hours

See the website of Maura Ferri

See the website of Luigi Parrotta